GET REAL

With the onslaught of images on social media of yoga teachers in advanced postures I've asked myself - where has the yoga gone?
In response I wrote a poem.
Inspired by my favorite poem written by Oriah Mountain Dreamer - The Invitation

GET REAL

I don't care how long you are able to stand on your head.
I want to know if the thoughts in your head are kind and loving.

I don't care how you can contort your body, or what new advanced pose you are able to do.
I want to know if you can love yourself when things fall apart.
I want to know how you handle getting bent out of shape.
I want to know if you are willing to put in the work to make your dreams come true.

I don’t care what your body looks like.
I want to know what you see when you look in the mirror - do you love the skin you're in?
I want to know how you feel, what your internal dialogue sounds like.

I don't care how strong your core is.
I want to know if you'll be strong for yourself and for others when it counts, when things get hard.
I want to know if you can stand in the face of fear and overcome obstacles.

I don’t care how long you can hold a pose.
I want to know what you long for, what gets you up in the morning, what you think about before bed.
I want to know if you’ll stick around through the tough stuff, even when it’s uncomfortable - especially when it's uncomfortable.
I want to know if you'll be there for me when I need a shoulder to cry on.

I don’t care how long you’ve been practicing.
I want to know what you do for others, how you lead by example, how you make an impact.

I don’t care how perfect your alignment is.
I want to know if you say what you mean and mean what you say.
I want to know if you're listening.
I want to know if you follow through.

I don’t care how gracefully you can transition from one pose to another.
I want to know how you handle change in your day-to-day life with grace.
I want to know if you can sit still and be alone with yourself.

I don't care how deeply you can back-bend.
I want to know how you deal with life’s ups and downs.
I want to know if you can be flexible when things don’t go your way.

I don’t care what new product you’re repping or who makes those awesome pants (ok maybe I do a little).
I want to know what you value.
I want to know what you love and how you show it.

I don’t care how big your classes are or how many people follow you on instagram.
I want to know how you live... when no ones watching, when the mask is gone, when things get real.

I want to know… YOU.